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(No Model.) I 2 ShaetSI-Sheet 1.

' J'. 0.,N-ILES.

TRUNK.

No.294,260. Patented P611526, 1884.

N. PETERS. Pholc-lflhagnahcn Wank-131m. DJ;

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

J. O. NILES.

TRUNK.

No. 294,260. Patented Feb-Z6, 1884.

,AZZo'rney;

UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JOHN O. NILES, OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,260, dated February 26, 1884.

Application filed October 2, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. NILEs, of Sara toga Springs, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks; andIdo hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to trunks; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the same, as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a trunk constructed in accord ance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, and Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate different dispositions of the drawers or adjustable partitions contained in the trunk.

A represents the body of the trunk, which is reenforced 011 its two sides and bottom by longitudinal battens B B. The ends of the said sides and bottom, together with their battens, project a short distance beyond the sections a a, constituting the ends of the trunk. The space thus formed by the projecting ends of the sides and bottom is filled by heads 0 O, suitably secured therein, constructed from one or more pieces of material, the outer flush surface being round and provided with a central recess, 2', within which, to the faces of the end sections, a, are secured the handles b b.

D D are two lidsections, which are hinged to the sides of the trunk, so that when they close the same they will lie flush with the up per edges of the sides and end sections. One of the hinged lids is provided with a reenforc-ing batten, B, corresponding in width to the battens B. This batten B is so secured to its lid section D that when both lids are shut this batten B will overlap the edge of the other lid and securely close the joint between them.

At the ends of the batten B are the locks E E, which may be of any suitable kind. The bolts j of these said locks enter keepers F F, which are rigidly secured to the upper faces of the heads 0 O.

\Vithinthe trunk I have illustrated a number of cases or drawers, G, which may be of different sizes, or of an equal size, and preferably of such size as will completely fill the trunk. The interior of the trunk is of such dimensions as to permit two vertical series of drawers; or, in other words, its length is just double the front width of each drawer, as illustrated in Fig. 5. Each drawer is preferably provided with a removableback, k,which may be withdrawn in order to more easily unpack the contents and clean or dust the said drawer, when required, and one or more of the said drawers contains a movable tablet, Z, as shown in Fig. 4. The said tablet may be hinged at the forward end of the drawer, so that when the drawer is partially drawn out its free edge may rest against the body of the trunk, and the tablet thus be held in an inclined position; or it may be arranged to slide in and out of the drawer in order to be thrown into or out of position. Instead of the drawers completely filling the interior of the trunk, suitably adjusted partitions m may be arranged therein, as shown in Fig. 6, to be used as shelves or followers.

The movable backs of the drawers may be arranged in any suitable manner, but are preferably made to slide in grooves in the sides of the drawers, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

I have illustrated the trunk as being of a square shape; but,if desired, it can be of a cy-' lindrical or of any preferred angular form in cross-section. Inthe event of its being cylindrical,a hoop of metal may be shrunk or forced on each end, to contribute to the general rigidity of the structure.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the trunk-body herein set forth and illustrated is of both simple and durable construction, capable of withstanding great strain and rough usage, and of being easily moved on the ends; that the incorporation therein of the end heads, 0 G, not only reenforces the body at its ends but furnishes a recess in which can be secured the handles, and by which they are protected from being struck in the movements of the trunk. More over, the trunk can be placed so as to rest upon one of its ends, as seen inFig. 5, and serve in the capacity of a dressing-case, the

lids can be easily opened or closed while the trunk is upon one of its ends.

As shown in Fig. 4, the lids maybe opened and one of the upper drawers drawn out, to'

present the tablet Z it contains, to aft'orda support for writing, or act as a counter for various articles.

In making trunks with straight sides I may use thick material and dress it down, so as to form thereon the ribs.

I do not limit myself to the precise arrangement shown and described, as the same may be subjected to modifications and change without departing from the spirit of my in vention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a trunk, of the reaaaaeo enforcing heads setting within the ends of. the trunk, and recessed, as described, the end sections of the trunk, and the sides thereof, the heads having central apertures, through which extend the handles secured to the end sections, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination with the sides and ends of a trunk constructed and arranged as described, the strengthening battens at the sides and bottom, and the rabbeted batten at the top, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with a trunk, of a se ries of drawers provided with removable backs, whereby the contents may be readily handled in unpacking and the dust removed, substantially as specified.

in testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I a l'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OHN' O. NILES.

W'i tnesses:

. All

HUIBERT, P. ll. Lawn. 

